Heroic describes every one of the 210 runners who completed last Sunday's Three Peaks Race run in atrocious weather including wind, rain, hail and sleet.

Start line favourite was ex-Skyrac runner Simon Booth (Borrowdale) but his winning time of 3 hr 10 min 43 sec was an astonishing 18 minutes slower than when he won the last race in 2000, demonstrating how severe race conditions were.

There were 254 starters but of these over 40 runners dropped out with many suffering from the bone chilling conditions.

At Ribblehead Viaduct, at the foot of Whernside, Booth was running comfortably in a group of four runners who had made a decisive break from a field already bunching in groups for succour against the cruel weather. However, by the Hill Inn which lies at the foot of the long drag up to Ingleborough Booth was alone having broken clear by 45 seconds from his Borrowdale clubmate Andrew Schofield who in turn had opened up a 30 second gap on Clayton's Garry Wilkinson.

These positions were to remain unaltered to the finish with both gaps widening over the last third of the race to around six minutes with Schofield finishing in 3.16.30 and Wilkinson in 3.22.04.

Skyrac runners received two awards. Neil Clayton received his plaque for previously completing 21 races and Malcolm Coles (93rd in 4.19.29) was the first Over 60 to finish. The Otley-based Paul Briscoe (Pudsey and Bramley) finished a magnificent seventh in 3.33.55 despite injuring his arm.

Other local runners included: 28th Richard Pattinson (Fellandale) in 3.46.07, 32nd John Wootton (Wharfedale) in 3.50.46, 36th Dale Foster (Otley) in 3.51.51, 48th Mike Baldwin (Ilkley) in 3.59.00, 64th Graham Grinstead (Skyrac) in 4.08.58, 88th Marc Springer (Horsforth Harriers) 4.18.33, 91st Ray Hawksby (Otley) in 4.19.26, 94th Peter Shields (Ilkley) in 4.19.34, 101st Nick Pearce (Ilkley) in 4.22.45, 122nd Julian Simmonds (Horsforth Fellandale) 4.30.43, 144th Dennis Ackroyd (Ilkley) in 4.43.35, 155th Andrew Sumner (Otley) in 4.48.58, 185th Anna Liuba (Ilkley) 5.08.12.

The number of finishers is the lowest since 1973 but the Three Peaks Race Association take pride in the attention they pay to the safety of runners including timing out runners who cannot complete the race in less than 5 hr 30 min.

At 24 miles with 4500 feet of climb over hills well over 2000 feet high the Three Peaks Race is arduous even in balmy weather but the conditions experienced last Sunday justify the attention paid by the organisers to ensuring that the well being of competitors remains paramount.

As the country wide entry list shows, Yorkshire's Three Peaks Race remains the event most runners wish to conquer at least once in their running careers.

Otley Athletic Club

Sunday saw five members of Otley AC competing in the annual Three Peaks fell race, which covers 24 miles and 4,500ft of ascent over all three of Yorkshire's peaks. Penny-ghent,Whernside and Ingleborough.

Conditions this year were extreme with driving wind, rain, hail and snow on the top of Ingleborough.

Otley AC's Dale Foster had an excellent run despite losing ten places with a fall in the raging stream at Ribbleshead viaduct, finishing in a respectable 36th place in 3hr 51min. Next in for Otley was Ray Hawksby in 4hr 20min, followed by Andrew Sumner in 4hr 48min. Sadly David Fox and Colin Best met with the same fate as many other runners and retired due to the effects of the cold.

Club members Jack and Kath Robertshaw, Andrew Robertshaw, Emma Payne, Nick Hodgkinson and Aidan Smith all braved the conditions to provide much needed supplies at various points around the course.

This year's entry was disappointing with only 250 runners starting the event, previous years have seen 500-strong fields although the race did not run last year due to the Foot and Mouth crisis.

Full results will be available at www.threepeaksrace.org.uk

Otley AC welcomes runners of all abilities, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at Otley Rugby Club. Phone Emma Payne, fell captain, on (01943) 461087, for further details, or visit the website at www.otleyac.co.uk

Skyrac AC Fellrunners

Ninety runners, who presumably are saving themselves for this weekend's Championship event at Coniston, travelled on Saturday to a farm on the outskirts of Meltham for the six mile West Nab race around Royd Edge.

The FRA Calendar suggests the race has a total climb of over 2,000 feet and this may be so judging by the contrived route of laps and loops which make up the distance.

Winner was Lloyd Taggart (Buxton) in 40.41 and for Skyrac Duncan Asquith was 34th in 51.59 with Graham Breeze 37th in 52.54.

Skyrac AC are based at the new ANSA clubhouse on Nunroyd Park, Yeadon. Ring 01943 874046 for training night details.

Run for the RNIB

DO you feel fit? Get your running shoes on and join our team to raise funds for the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) in The Great North Run.

Anne Bell, fund-raising development co-ordinator for the RNIB, says: "The BUPA Great North Run received the best possible compliment when Olympic legend Sebastian Coe described it as the best in the world". Anne continues: "Not only would you experience a wonderful half marathon, it is also a fun and enjoyable day and you will have a great time. So make yourself feel good by doing something positive for yourself and supporting the RNIB, helping them to help blind and partially sighted people of all ages to lead independent and fulfilling lives."

This wonderful Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 6, 2002. To receive a guaranteed entry form from the RNIB just call me on 01786 450559, or email me on ann.bell@rnib.org.uk

AireCentre Pacers

THREE Pacers took part in the London Marathon. Mike Hildyard compiled a splendid personal best of 3hr 25min, over 13 minutes better than last year. Also making her mark was Candy Gable, tackling her second marathon, whose time of 4hr 30min was fully an hour better than her first effort. Sadly Diane Craven incurred an injury in the week leading up to the race, and despite intensive treatment right up to the start, could only manage 12 miles before calling it a day.

They had prepared solidly through competing in the East Hull 20-mile race. Battling against the odds Mike Hildyard managed 2hr 36min, Diane Craven 2hr 48min and Candy Gable 3hr 30min. In amongst these Richard Thompson slotted in a 2hr 44min.

Yvonne Hampshaw and Malcolm Smart took off to Cyprus. Yvonne managed a radiant third place in the half marathon, while Malcolm sweated his way through the marathon in 3hr 45min.

Enjoying the more rugged delights of Guiseley at Easter, Richard Thompson led the Pacer charge in the Guiseley Gallop. An excellent turnout saw Alison Forkins reap the dividends of sustained winter training to be next home. Chris Hill and Will Morris produced sterling returns; while Russell Oliver chose the right day for a good performance. Meanwhile Paul Forkins gallantly escorted Angela Newlass home further down the field.

Chris Hill and Peter Phillips acquitted themselves well in the Wakefield 10k race, while in the Baildon Boundary Race there were the first sightings of Spring of Richard Archer, Adrian Lee and Karen Edridge. Attention now turns to the Leeds Marathon and Half Marathon, when a bumper club participation is expected.